Thomson convenience store Lucky 7 destroyed in suspicious blaze

Police believe unknown offenders used an accelerant to light a blaze at a Thomson convenience store in the early hours of Friday. But they may have targeted the wrong shop.

A convenience store has gone up in flames in Thomson.

A convenience store in Thomson has been destroyed in a suspicious blaze on Friday morning, which could be linked to the tobacco wars.

It’s understood the wrong store was targeted and the attack was intended for another shop a few doors down.

Fire crews were called to Lucky 7 on Boundary Rd just before 3am after multiple residents called triple-0.

Police said detectives from the Geelong Crime Investigation Unit were investigating the suspicious blaze.

“It is believed that unknown offenders used an accelerant to light a fire at the front of the premises on Boundary Rd,” a police spokesman said.

The police spokesman said no one was inside the store at the time of the fire.

“A crime scene has been established and an arson chemist will attend the location today.

“The investigation remains ongoing.”

About 9am on Friday, detectives were scouring the area and police were guarding the store.

A convenience store has gone up in flames in Thomson.

It’s understood the blaze may be linked to the state’s escalating tobacco wars as gangs try to seize control of the black market.

The inside of the convenience store was badly damaged in the blaze.

Melted plastic could be seen dripping down drink fridges and smashed glass littered the floor.

The blaze also burnt a Streets ice cream freezer and food items on shelves.

It is not suggested the owners of either the store hit by the fire, or the shop that was potentially the intended target, are linked to the tobacco wars.

The blaze comes a week after a Norlane shop was rammed by a car and set alight.

The store on Donnybrook Rd, which is understood to have sold vapes and cigarettes, was targeted about 4am on November 2.

A partly melted red jerry can could be seen sitting next to the burnt out white car.

Last month, cash, vapes and more than 80,000 cigarettes were seized from two tobacco shops in Newcomb and Corio by detectives from the VIPER Taskforce.

A 41-year-old Tarneit man, who was at the Newcomb shop, was arrested and charged with supporting a criminal organisation and illicit tobacco offences.

Days earlier, a 50-year-old Grovedale woman was arrested over her alleged involvement in a $30m organised crime syndicate.

Police swooped on several properties across Victoria, including homes in Lara and Grovedale and tobacco shops in Herne Hill, Bell Park and Grovedale.

Police allege the syndicate was leasing stores and employing staff under the guise of operating as legitimate gifts and confectionery stores while only selling illicit tobacco and related products.

Originally published as Thomson convenience store Lucky 7 destroyed in suspicious blaze